The United States Embassy in Egypt has called on its citizens to leave the country as soon as possible as widespread protests aimed at ousting President Hosni Mubarak continue to gain popularity, despite a massive military presence in cities across the country. “#American citizens including myself & neighbours will not leave #Egypt until #Mubarak leaves,” said Cairo resident Julie Stevens with the Flower Club, in response to the Embassy's calls for its people to leave the country. The Sunday travel warning said the Embassy would update Americans about departure assistance as soon as possible, with Al Jazeera reporting that it and Turkey were sending in planes to help evacuate its citizens from the country. It said U.S. citizens should avoid travel to Egypt because of unrest, violence, and ongoing demonstrations against President Hosni Mubarak's government. “We do encourage U.S. citizens living and residing abroad to sign up with us at www.travel.state.gov,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement. “This not only allows us to make more accurate plans in the event of a crisis in country, but enables us to provide those U.S. citizens with information and to reach them, should an emergency occur.” Some estimates put the number of American citizens at over 200,000 in the Egyptian capital of Cairo alone. BM
